Happy Catholic: Glimpses of God in Everyday Life [Paperback]

Julie Davis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2011

Why did it take me so long to see the truth that floods through everyday life? -- from the Introduction.

As she does in her blog, Happy Catholic, Julie Davis taps into quotes ranging from The Simpsons to John Paul II, Battlestar Galactica to Scripture and The Princess Bride and discovers all around her glimpses of God. Her reflections on pithy quotes (Trashing your hotel room is easy, but being a Christian--that's rebellion. -- Alice Cooper) draw back the veil, letting us connect with God in unexpected ways.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Happy Catholic will prove irresistible to readers, who will appreciate both the broad variety of media from which these well-phrased sentiments are culled and the simple meditations that make them memorable and useful. --Elizabeth Scalia, the blogger known as The Anchoress

Julie Davis carries the spirit of St. Justin Martyr into the twenty-first century. He said, Everything good is ours, and Julie delights in it all: movies, literature, cooking, TV, paintings, house pets, and a cool drink on a warm Texas evening. --Mike Aquilina, author of Understanding the Mass

Whether you are already a Happy Catholic or someone who's been separated from your faith, Julie Davis will uplift you, inspire you, and warm your soul. --Lisa M. Hendy, author of The Handbook for Catholic Moms

Julie Davis is the creator of the Happy Catholic blog, podcasts novels at Forgotten Classics and foodblogs at Meanwhile, Back in the Kitchen. She is a very busy woman at this stage of her life. But not so busy that she doesn't have time to be a gifted and creative detective looking for signs of God's presence in films, books, television, animals, nature, work, relationships, and more. Here is a brief sampler of her investigations:

When something good happens to her, she takes it as part of God's delight in surprising us.

She quotes Alfred North Whitehead on the idea that philosophy begins in wonder and then goes on to realize that it is the same quality that drew her to her faith.

She is pleased when she comes across an epiphany in the middle of a mystery novel by Dick Francis. It makes her laugh and then it makes her think.

Truth is where we find it even in a silly movie like School of Rock which contains an insightful prayer.

Davis admits that she is a great believer in etiquette as being a cure for what ails us.

It is appropriate to read Davis quoting the 2003 - 2005 TV series Joan of Arcadia. God speaks to us when we least expect it. He whispers to us when we're too busy or asleep. As detectives always on the lookout for the Divine, we must remain alert and attentive to the presence of God in every facet and minute of our lives. --Frederic and Mary Ann Bassat, Spirituality and Health

Whether you are already a Happy Catholic or someone who's been separated from your faith, Julie Davis will uplift you, inspire you, and warm your soul. --Lisa M. Hendy, author of The Handbook for Catholic Moms

About the Author

JULIE DAVIS is creator of the Happy Catholic blog, podcasts novels at Forgotten Classics, and foodblogs at Meanwhile, Back in the Kitchen. She and her husband live in Dallas and have two grown daughters.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Servant Books (April 15, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0867169745
• ISBN-13: 978-0867169744
• Product Dimensions: 0.6 x 5 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #333,770 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fear Not This Book (a review from not-a-Catholic) April 11, 2011

By Heather H. Ordover

Format:Paperback

I'm not Catholic.
I love this book.

There you are. That's pretty much all you need from me in this review since the other reviewers have told you how wonderful Julie is, how interesting her personal story is, and how insightful her thinking and writing is. However, I reviewed this on my podcast, CraftLit, (which is where I met Julie years ago when she forced me at blog-point to read A Tale of Two Cities... which I loved...) and here's a bit of what I said on the podcast:

---Just in case you thought this book was for Catholics only, I would like to read a small selection. On page 43 it says, "Why Do You Think They Call It Willpower, Old Chum?" And who does she quote to launch her into her little mini-essay here?

Robin: Self-control is sure tough sometimes, Batman!
Batman: All virtues are, old chum. Indeed, that's why they're virtues.

And that's a quote from the Batman TV series.

Remember this is Happy Catholic: Glimpses of God in Everyday Life ... quoting Batman. This is why I love Julie. And her essay is really quite lovely as well. ...

I don't actually think you have to be Catholic to enjoy it. I am not Catholic and I am enjoying it. But part of that is because wisdom is wisdom, you know? And she's drawing wisdom from all sorts of great places and commenting on it and giving us her own particular slant on it.---

I can actually see folks using this book as a book-group-book just because Julie gives you a lot to think about. Take a gander. You won't be disappointed.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiration for People Who Hate Inspiriational-Genre April 4, 2011

By Jennifer Fitz

Format:Paperback

I've followed Julie's blog for a long time, but I was still a little nervous about the book -- what if I didn't like it? (We are sort of internet friends, that could be awkward.)

Turns out there was no need to fear. I give it a five-star, if you fit the target audience. (If you want heartwarming tales of orphans and puppies and The Real Meaning of Christmas Is Sharing, try some other book.)

The format is this: Julie puts up a short quote that caught her attention. Could come from anywhere -- TV, movies, books, famous spiritual writers, famous heretics, you name it. Then she responds to that quote in a few paragraphs. To expand upon it, to argue with it, to correct the interesting-but-slightly-off point, or to share a personal story that underscores the main idea.

Why I like the book:

* It's reliable. Solid catholic thinking, neither to the right nor to the left.
* Written for ordinary Catholics. [I can't recall anything that would be uncomfortable for non-catholic Christians, FYI.]
* You don't have to read the whole thing. You just open to a random page. Better than a magazine.
* It's entertaining.

What I like most: Julie grapples with popular culture head-on. It's easy for Christians to want to run away from all secular media (and much religious media), or else to lay down arms and succumb. Julie jumps into questions like: Why does Han Solo deserve our attention? How shall we rank Oprah, Miss Manners, and Jesus? And is it possible Monty Python is more catholic than we realized? Even in The Life of Brian?

--> For parents and teachers trying to steer their children (and themselves) through the wider culture and still come out Christian in the end, this book sets a great example. It's a critical-thinking course in disguise.

I give it a recommend as an excellent gift for teens (confirmation gift, maybe?), and for adults who still like to sit down with a drink and chat about ideas. Fodder for conversation for years. Also for adults who want a good compendium of spiritual warm-ups, but who can't do the kitten stories. Nice book, well done. Very happy with it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "Everything Good is Ours!" St Justin Martyr April 30, 2011

By Terry Fenwick

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

After buying the book, happened into Mike Aquilina's blog, The Fathers of the Church, and there Julie Davis was! He should be writing a review on this book. In case he does not, here are a few things Mike mentioned: "Anyone who's spent more than a minute browsing this blog's archives knows that I'm a huge fan of Happy Catholic. On popular culture, on family life, on Church stuff, she manages always to get things just right. Her happiness is not an irritatingly persistent cheer, but something deep that draws from the theological virtue of hope."

Now I liked that comment because, as much as we love a good cheerleader, and we do, it is no use running the streets cheering about how much we love our faith - if it is not deep enough in value - in Hope - to make a difference in another's life. None of us want to be the "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal" in 1 Corinthians 13:1. (Terry Fenwick here with this comment - now back to Mike:)

"Her blog is a delight, but I'm happy to have her now in book form. Servant Books has just published Julie Davis's Happy Catholic: Glimpses of God in Everyday Life. I read it in manuscript, but I like it even more now that it has a bright, sunny cover. I'd read it again if I could wrest it from my wife's grip. I suppose I'll have to buy a second copy. But that's OK, because it's an excellent book to keep on hand for passing out to inquirers or fallen-away or disaffected Catholics. Julie knows how to lead readers, at just the right pace, to see the Church's human and divine aspects for what they are: human (long sigh) and divine (wow!). For me, she defines realism because her realism reminds me so much of my mom's and my wife's."

Again Julie does not just run out in front of us shouting - she LEADS us to the right place - to the Church and each other!! Julie Davis is a happy Catholic leader. (Terry Fenwick again)

Mike has written words we can sing when we think of this book. One of his final comments? Repeating something Julie has said: " Julie Davis carries the spirit of St. Justin Martyr into the twenty-first century. He said `Everything good is ours," and Julie delights in it all: movies, literature, cooking, TV, paintings, house pets, and a cool drink on a warm Texas evening. To be a Happy Catholic is to possess a faith with an attractive power. People want the kind of happiness Julie Davis has. God made us for it. And there's so, so much of it in this book."

Price is right! Yellow cover! Easy to find. In the season of Yellow and White - the Vatican flag - looks like Catholics are going to be making a difference. Julie? You make us Happy Catholics! Thanks for that!